Undershirt.



L. .S. LEE.

UNDERSHIRT.

APPLICATION FILED 811F130, 1912.

Patented Sept. 15, 1914.

Ila/ZZZ; 9- Lee.

THE NORRIS PETERS CO., FHOTULITHO WASHINGTON. D. C,

LULU SKINNER LEE, 015 LOS .ANGELES, CALIFORNIA.

UNDERSHIRT.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 15, 1914;.

Application filed September 30, 1812. Serial No. 723,066.

To all whom it may concern j Be it known that I, LULU SKINNER LEE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Los Angeles, in the county of Los Angeles and State of California, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Undershirts, of which the following is a specification.

v This invention relates to shirts and more particularly to garments of this character worn next to the body, and especially to garments worn by infants or invalids, and the principal object is to provide a garment of this character that is entirely formed of flaps that may be wrapped upon one another to form body and limb inclosing portions.

It is also an object to provide a garment without fixed fastening means so that there are no hard or cumbersome buttons and materials necessary to be added to make button-holes, providing an easily adjustable garment which may be fastened with proper safety devices passed through the fabric.

It is a further object to provide a garment, the overlapping and double portions formed thereby inclosing parts of the body requiring more protection to the cold or outside influences, the longer extensions on the flaps being carried over to form the shoulder portions and brought down anterially under the more dependent portion of the body and act as a support and also a brace to throw the shoulders in correct position.

In the drawings accompanying this specification Figure 1 is a front View of the improved garment showing the fiaps and bands fastened securely by pins to complete the shirt. Fig. 2 is a rear view of the same position as Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a detail View showing one of the flaps forming the arm, a shoulder and partof the chest portion turned down upon itself to clearly show the configuration of the garment.

More specifically in the drawings like numerals indicate the same portions in the different views, 5 designating the back of the shirt preferably formed as shown, of one piece of woven fabric provided with the flaps 6 and 7, these flaps being of such configuration and of sufiicient width to overlap across one another to form the front of the garment. The lower portion of these flaps are practically formed straight across with slightly rounded corners 8, the extens1o n .of these front edges upward meet at point 9 to form an opening for the neck. This edge being further extended together wlth an edge 10 forming a portion of the arm hole. The distance across this portion of the fabric being sufficient to extend from the neck to the shoulders, its further extenslon being continued to form the band 11 of such length that it can be carried down and across the back under the opposite arm opening, and from this position carried across the front of the garment, preferably of such length as to extend beyond the roundedcorners 8. The opposite side or flap 1s similarly formed the bands being preferably of the same length, the second band crossing over the first on the back and lapping over the former band 11 about the median line of the garment.

The arm inclosing portions of this garment are shown as separate pieces of fabric joined at the arm hole and of such length from the shoulder outward as to reach the wrists of the wearer, the under portion 14 being of one piece of fabric, the inner edges being joined to the arm hole 10 in any suitable and well known manner. This portion 14, as before stated, is of preferably one piece of fabric, and of suflicient width to entirely cross the arm and overlap along its free and upper edges, these edges being extended intermediate of their ends to form the flaps 15 and 16. In the material adjacent to the flap 16, is preferably formed the opening 17, elongated and practically parallel with the general axial position of the arm, and of sufficient width to pass the flap 16 freely therethrough. The flap 16 is preferably of greater length than the flap 15, forming an encircling band which is carried over the flap 15 after the latter is inserted and in conjunction with the edge joining the band 11 completing the shoulder protection by overlapping the upper edge of the back portion 5, and after being drawn to the tension desired, is secured to the flap 15 by proper fastening devices 18 passed through the two thicknesses of fabric.

It will thus be readily seen that the garment when it is in unfolded position, can be laid out flat on any desired surface and the infant or invalid upon whom it is desired to be placed may be laid upon this back portion, and the flaps and bands carried around the portions that they are designed to cover Without unnecessary rolling or disturbance of the patient or infant.

This garment is practically desirable for use on infants, especially When it is. desired to have only portion of the body uncovered in bathing, and also desirable in surgical Work, Where it is impossible to flex or move portions or limbs to insert them Within the usual and common type of garment. .For infants use this is particularly adapted, as the bands joining in front form a secure hold to fasten nether garments or other articles of, clothing, with the same fastening means, the Weight being transferred from the front directly to the shoulders, as is also the Weight attached to the back of the garment, this supporting method tending to brace up the body and free the respiratory organs of any pressure. The abdomen is also Well protected by'the double thickness,

bands is beneand the support given by the ficial.

What I claim is r 1. An undergarment, comprising a body member formed of a single piece of material 1 and adapted to overlap at the front thereof When Worn, the upper portions of said body Copies of this patent maybe obtained for member terminating in extension straps adapted to cross each other at the back thereof and encircle the Waist of said body member to secure the same together When Worn, and shoulder extension flaps forming sleeves, said flaps being provided with tongues and 7 each flap at one side thereof being provided With a slot, said tongues adapted to'enter said slots for securing the extension flaps together to form tubular sleeves. I

. 2. An undergarment comprising a body member formed of a single piece of material and adapted to overlap at the front thereof When Worn, the upper portions of said body 7 member terminating in extension straps I adapted to cross each other at the back thereof and encircle the Waist of said body member to secure same together When Worn, shoulder extension flaps forming sleeves, 1' and means on said extension flaps for secur- "ing the flaps together to form tubular sleeves. In Witness that I claim the foregoing I 1 have hereunto subscribed my name this th 1 day of Sept, 1912. Y LULU SKINNER LEE.

Witnesses EDMUND A. STRAUSE,

EARLE R. PoLLARD.

five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. '0. 

